A Gloucester Township man and three people from New York City have been indicted in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to commit visa and marriage fraud, according to authorities.
The defendants – Shawnta Hopper, 33, of Sicklerville; and New Yorkers Ella Zuran, 65; Tatiana Sigal, 74; and Alexandra Tkach, 41 – are accused of facilitating fraudulent marriages between U.S. citizens and foreign nationals in order to secure immigration benefits. If convicted, they face up to five years in federal prison.
The indictment alleges that the four orchestrated a wide-reaching scheme involving not only sham marriages but also fabricated documents and false applications for legal permanent residency. The indictments came after a two-year investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland, in collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
“These arrests mark a critical milestone in our broader effort to dismantle a criminal network that has sought to undermine our nation’s immigration laws,” said Michael McCarthy, special agent for HSI Maryland. “Marriage fraud is not a victimless crime; it compromises the integrity of our immigration system, diverts critical resources and erodes public trust.”
The investigation began in April 2022 through HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud/El Dorado Task Force. Federal officials say U.S. citizens were recruited to participate in fake marriages for financial compensation. Interviews conducted by USCIS’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security revealed that some participants admitted to receiving payments in exchange for marrying foreign nationals and signing falsified immigration paperwork.
“Some marriages are made in heaven, some are just made up,” explained USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser. “Our work with ICE crushed a marriage fraud ring where U.S. citizens were paid to marry aliens. Buying a spouse doesn’t make you a citizen.”
Zuran, Sigal, and Tkach allegedly arranged introductions between foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, coordinated the fake weddings and oversaw the submission of fraudulent immigration documents. Hopper allegedly recruited citizens in Baltimore and other locations to engage in the fraudulent marriages and was paid for her efforts, according to officials.
“The defendants’ greed led them to concoct an illegal-marriage scheme that compromises the integrity of our immigration system,” explained U.S. attorney Kelly Hayes. “This indictment sends a clear message: The U.S. Attorney’s Office – along with our law-enforcement partners – will relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those who try to exploit our immigration system through fraud and deception.”
ICE officials also conducted a coordinated operation on April 24 that led to the arrest of 10 individuals connected to the scheme. Their immigration benefits have since been revoked.
Special Agent David Richeson, of the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, emphasized the broader implications of the investigation.
“The Diplomatic Security Service is a key partner in the United States’ work to reduce illegal immigration and root out those who endeavor to exploit the U.S. travel system.”
Authorities remind the public that an indictment is not a conviction; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
